Learning Center

Upon receipt of the W-2 Wage and Tax Statement from your employer, you may look at line item number 4 on the form, which is labeled “Social Security tax withheld,” and wonder where these automatic deductions have been going. The simple answer is that the Social Security tax, which is…

Each legal resident of the United States is assigned a Social Security Number, and it serves a critical purpose in identification. These numbers are used for a variety of things, including taxes, benefits, signing up for loans, and much more. If you qualify for a Social Security Number, it is…

Eligibility for retirement benefits through Social Security may begin at age 62, assuming the beneficiary has earned enough credits through employment. Over the span of a working lifetime, accrual of forty credits is the standard requirement for benefits at retirement. Exceptions apply for disability and survivor benefits. The Social Security…

Medicare recipients have several options when it comes to expanding or enhancing their Original Medicare benefits. These options vary widely, so understanding their differences can help recipients make the best choice for their care. What is a Medicare Supplement Plan? Original Medicare, Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical…

End-of-life care involves a wide range of services, and so it requires special coverage rules through Medicare Part A. A recipient may not see much change in terms of how their services are provided, they should understand what their cost-sharing obligations may be while receiving hospice care. What is Hospice…

Medicare Supplement plans, which can also be called Medigap plans, enhance Original Medicare benefits that have certain limitations. Although Original Medicare helps cover many medical expenses, there are out-of-pocket costs that can add up. To protect themselves from potentially stressful out-of-pocket expenses, many Medicare recipients choose to buy supplemental insurance,…

Medicare is available to beneficiaries once they reach the age of 65 or, if they are under the age of 65, after their 24th month of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI) due to disability. Certain factors can impact when enrollment can begin and what a beneficiary’s options are when…

In the United States, having a Social Security number (SSN) is critical. Parents often apply for this nine-digit number for their newborn babies so they can open a bank account in the child’s name to start a college fund. From a young age, Americans learn to safeguard and memorize their…

The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues payments to those who qualify by having enough credits earned through working. The number of required credits depends on the type of benefit. An application needs to be submitted to the SSA for any of the following provisions: Retirement Disability Family survivors Medicare Your…